Float supported signalling device



Nov- 8, 1955 J. H. ROBERTSON 2, ,390

FLOAT SUPPORTED SIGNALLING DEVICE Filed Sept. 28, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

BY J. H. ROBERTSON l9 TTOR/VEX Nov. 8, 1955 J. H. ROBERTSON FLOAT SUPPORTED SIGNALLING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 28, 1951 INVENTOR.

T 7 4 BY JHR0BERT$0N ATTORNEY.

United States Patent FLOAT SUPPORTED SIGNALLING DEVICE James H. Robertson, North Hollywood, Calif. Application September 28, 1951, Serial No. 248,690

zCl-aims. ca. sad-261 This invention relates to a signaling device forming part of a float which may be placed on the surface of a body of water and-which is designed to give warning of any disturbance of the water surface.

It is becoming increasingly popular to install on residentialproperties swimming pools for the enjoyment of the occupants and their guests. Such pools are generally placed very close to the living quarters on the property for the convenience of the occupants thereof and also usually on account of space limitations. Nor is it customary to fence in such pools, mostly because such fence would materially detract from the appearance, of the property. However, there is great danger in leaving such to or may find the opportunity to play on the grounds surpools exposed, particularly where children are allowed to or may find the opportunity toplay on the grounds surrounding the pool at times when no one is near to keep an eye on the children.

It is in view of the foregoing the object of the present invention to provide a signaling device which is embodied into a float so small and light that it may easily be carried to and from the pool by anyone in the house and so sensitive to vibration that any disturbance of the water within thepool, on which the float is placed will be effective to energize a warning signal. Another object is to provide means extending from the signal mechanism of the float to a desired point at or within the residence for sounding or otherwise giving warning whenever the water of the normally quiet pool is agitated.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the combinations hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing of which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a device embodying the invention and with parts of the Wall of the float casing broken away in order better to illustrate the interior mechanism thereof;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device with the upper portion of the casing thereof removed;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a somewhat modified form of the invention; and

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a further modification of the invention.

As indicated in Fig. l, the float consists of a casing including an upper member, or cover 1 and a bottom part, or body 2. These parts may be tightly assembled in any suitable manner, illustrative of which I have shown the abutting edges thereof flared to provide flanges 3, 4 through which bolts 5 extend tightly to draw the flanges together. In addition, it may be found necessary to place a resilient gasket 6 between the flanges of the casing. But, as above stated, any other suitable method of assembly may be substituted.

Centrally positioned on the bottom of the casing is a post 10 on which the devices forming the signaling mechanism of the invention are mounted in the following manner. The post is preferably cylindrical in shape and the upper portion thereof is shown reduced in diameter to form a shelf 11 on which a disc 12 is rigidly mounted as by means of screws 13 extending through perforations 2,723,390 Patented Nov. 8, 1955 14 of the disc. This member is made from non-flexing, current conducting material and it is electrically insulated",

. from the post 10 which, for this purpose, may be made from rubber or other non-conducting material. A rod 16 rises co-axially from the center of the post to a position near the inner surface of the cover 1 to support a circular plate 17 the material of which rises from the edge thereof on a gradually increasing curve to form at the top a centrally positioned seat 18 for the pointed upper end of the rod 16.

When so shaped, it is found that a slight tilting move ment of the casing in any direction, in response to a disturbance of the water on which the float is set to ride, will cause the edge of the inertia restrained plate to contact the peripheral edge of the disc 12 at some point, or successively at various points, to close a circuit to energize a bell 20 at any preferred location near or within the residence. A conductor 21 leads from a source of energy 22 through the bell to the rod 16 and the current returns from the disc through a Wire 23 to the source of energy. It is found convenient to cut the bell into the light circuit of the house in which case it will be necessary to step down the current by placing a transformer 24 into the float circuit. Perhaps the most convenient manner of completing this arrangement would be to cut the float circuit directly into the door bell circuit of the house. It is, of course, necessary that both the rod 10 and the plate 17 aremade from current conducting material and that they are insulated from each other and the float.

The conductors 21 and 23- should be guided into the casing through a non-conducting, watertight bushing, such as indicated at 25 Fig. 1, and this bushing is placed in the center of the casing. It was above stated that the pointed upper end of the rod' 16 is near the inner surface of the cover 1. When so positioned, it is seen that, while the plate 17 is afforded suflicient of freedom for oscillations on the point of the rod it cannot become disengaged therefrom until the cover is removed from the bottom member of the float. The post 10 should, of course, be rigidly mounted within the float the bottom of which for this purpose is shown provided with a circular flange 9 within which the post is tightly seated.

Means should be provided for supporting the weight of the wires extending from the float and such means may take the form of a tubular wire conduit 26 extending from the surface of the ground above the wall of the pool. This conduit may conveniently be held in position on the ground by means of a weighted base plate 27 and the outer end of the conduit is shown downwardly curved to take a position a short distance above the bushing 25 of the float. When so anchored, it is seen that the float will have some freedom of movement on the surface of the water and, as the weight of the wires is completely supported, nothing is present in the device tending to urge the float out of balance. The conduit 26 should be long enough to maintain the float a distance away from the wall A of the pool.

The modified device of Fig. 3 differs from the foregoing merely in placing the signaling mechanism on top of the float, but the principle of operation remaining substantially unchanged. On the float 30 is rigidly placed a stem 31 which rises axially from the center of the float to support on the pointed upper end thereof a frame 32. The latter includes a conical bearing member 33 which is seated within a cap 34 and the latter is made from current insulating material. Rods 35 extend downwardly and outwardly from this cap to support an annular contact element 36 in radially spaced relation to a sleeve 37 of the stem 31. This sleeve is electrically insulated from the stem by means of a nonconducting lining 38.

When these parts are properly shaped and proportioned, it is found that a slight tilting movement of the float in any direction will cause the annular element 36 to contact the sleeve 37 and so to close a circuit through conductors 39 and 40, which, in turn, may be connected to a source of energy in the manner above described. All of this mechanism is shown mounted within a waterproof casing 41, conical in shape and rising from the upper surface of the float to a position a short distance above the top of the cap 34. The frame 32 is in this manner aflorded freedom of oscillating movement on the stem but cannot become dislodged therefrom until the casing 41 is detached from the float.

The wires extending from the casing 41 should, of course, be supported substantially as the wires 21, 23 of Fig. 1 are supported in order to maintain the float a distance from the pool wall without disturbing the equilibrium thereof. The outer end of a conduit'42, similar to the conduit 26 is, for this purpose, shown in position in Fig. 3 to maintain the float away from the wall of the pool.

The structure of Figs. 4 and 5 differs from the foregoing merely in the manner in which the signaling mechanism of the float is held suspended from the shore. This mechanism includes a stem 45 which rises from the center of the float 46 and is at or near the lower end fitted with a tubular contact member 47. The latter is by a non-conducting sleeve 48 held rigidly in position on the stem. The upper end of the stem is held guided within a loop 49 of a bar 50 which, like the conduits 42 and 26 is removably anchored on the ground above the wall of the pool. An arm 51 is secured to this bar by suitable means, such as bolts 52. Insulation 53 is provided electrically to insulate the arm from the bar. The outer end of the arm is shaped to provide a loop 54 in axial alignment with the loop 49 of the bar. When the inner diameter of the loop 54 is somewhat larger than the diameter of the contact element 47, it is seen that tilting movement of the float, due to disturbance of the water within the pool, will cause the stem to oscillate within the guide loop 49 and so to close contact between the elements 47 and loop 54. Means such as collars 55 should be mounted on the stem to retain the float in correct relation to the water level and when these collars are secured in position by set screws 56, it is seen that the stern and float may readily be adjusted to suit the elevation of the water level. Wires 57, 58 lead from the two contacts to complete a signal circuit in a manner similar to that indicated in Fig. 1.

I claim:

1. A signaling portable device including a circular float on the surface of a normally calm pool of water, said float having in its center a vertically directed stern, a contact sleeve on and insulated from said stem, a frame pendently hung for oscillation on the upper end of the stem, an annular contact member secured to and insulated from the frame in coaxial spaced relation to said contact sleeve, an electric circuit extending from a point away from the pool over the float and downwardly to said contacts, and a warning signaling element in said circuit, movement of the float due to disturbance of the water of the pool causing said frame to oscillate on the stem to close the circuit through the contacts thereby to energize said element.

2. A portable device for signaling warning of disturbance of the surface of a normally calm pool of water comprising, a float on the surface of the pool, an electric circuit including wires extending from a point a distance away from the pool downwardly to contacts of the float, means actuated by disturbance of the water surface to close said circuit through said contacts, and means for supporting the weight of said wires directly above the float.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 989,145 Hatchett Apr. 11, 1911 1,168,699 Arbib Jan. 18, 1916 2,534,709 Goertzen Dec. 19, 1950 2,602,846 Polikofi July 8, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 8,185 Great Britain 1915 

